PAH-mer /ˈpɑ.mər/
At a glance
- In short
- Palmer is an English name meaning pilgrim, from medieval travelers to the Holy Land.
- U.S. rank 2025 (girls)
- #232
- Babies in 2025 (girls)
- 1,330 (0.076% of girls)
- As a boy name
- #991 in 2025 (230 babies)Peak #383 in 1908
- Trend (girls)
- Rising #348 in 2020 to #232 in 2025
- Peak (girls)
- #232 in 2025
- Top state (girls)
- #72 in North Dakota
- First recorded
- 1880 (as a boy name; 1908 as a girl name)
Meaning of Palmer
Palmer comes from an English surname given to pilgrims. In medieval times a palmer was someone who had returned from the Holy Land carrying a palm leaf or branch as a sign of the journey, so the name means pilgrim. Today it is used for both boys and girls.
It is pronounced PAH-mer, with the l usually silent. The surname is best known through golfer Arnold Palmer. Entrepreneur Palmer Luckey, who created the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset and later founded the defense technology company Anduril, is a well-known bearer of the first name.
In the U.S., Palmer was given to just 13 babies in 2010, ranking 8,701st. It has climbed every year since 2013 and reached its highest rank yet in 2025, coming in at 232nd with 1,330 babies.
How to pronounce Palmer
English
- Pronounced PAH-mer /ˈpɑ.mər/
Popularity of Palmer in the U.S.
Palmer was the #232 girl name in the U.S. in 2025, with 1,330 babies. It has been in the top 1,000 since 2018. As a boy name it was #991 in 2025, with 230 babies.
- Rank among U.S. girl names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Girls year by year, 1908–2025 71 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,330 | 232 | ▲ 26 |
| 2024 | 1,224 | 258 | ▲ 19 |
| 2023 | 1,133 | 277 | ▲ 18 |
| 2022 | 1,075 | 295 | ▲ 35 |
| 2021 | 996 | 330 | ▲ 18 |
| 2020 | 888 | 348 | ▲ 113 |
| 2019 | 675 | 461 | ▲ 214 |
| 2018 | 433 | 675 | ▲ 367 |
| 2017 | 247 | 1,042 | ▲ 36 |
| 2016 | 241 | 1,078 | ▲ 259 |
| 2015 | 177 | 1,337 | ▲ 15 |
| 2014 | 173 | 1,352 | ▲ 272 |
| 2013 | 132 | 1,624 | ▼ 49 |
| 2012 | 138 | 1,575 | ▲ 1,063 |
| 2011 | 67 | 2,638 | ▲ 6,063 |
| 2010 | 13 | 8,701 | ▼ 1,360 |
| 2009 | 17 | 7,341 | ▼ 782 |
| 2008 | 20 | 6,559 | ▼ 850 |
| 2007 | 24 | 5,709 | ▲ 2,528 |
| 2006 | 14 | 8,237 | ▲ 1,891 |
| 2005 | 10 | 10,128 | ▼ 864 |
| 2004 | 11 | 9,264 | ▲ 407 |
| 2003 | 10 | 9,671 | ▲ 2,516 |
| 2002 | 7 | 12,187 | ▼ 1,167 |
| 2001 | 8 | 11,020 | ▲ 781 |
| 2000 | 7 | 11,801 | ▲ 2,610 |
| 1999 | 5 | 14,411 | ▼ 6,879 |
| 1998 | 12 | 7,532 | ▲ 6,192 |
| 1997 | 5 | 13,724 | ▼ 4,912 |
| 1996 | 9 | 8,812 | ▲ 1,702 |
| 1995 | 7 | 10,514 | ▼ 928 |
| 1994 | 8 | 9,586 | ▲ 1,002 |
| 1993 | 7 | 10,588 | ▼ 1,097 |
| 1992 | 8 | 9,491 | back (not recorded in 1990–1991) |
| 1989 | 5 | 12,362 | back (not recorded in 1987–1988) |
| 1986 | 8 | 7,749 | back (not recorded in 1982–1985) |
| 1981 | 5 | 10,411 | back (not recorded in 1969–1980) |
| 1968 | 7 | 5,642 | ▼ 185 |
| 1967 | 7 | 5,457 | back (not recorded in 1966) |
| 1965 | 5 | 6,539 | ▼ 1,065 |
| 1964 | 7 | 5,474 | back (not recorded in 1962–1963) |
| 1961 | 6 | 5,851 | ▼ 155 |
| 1960 | 6 | 5,696 | ▼ 1,071 |
| 1959 | 8 | 4,625 | back (not recorded in 1958) |
| 1957 | 8 | 4,536 | ▲ 789 |
| 1956 | 6 | 5,325 | ▲ 503 |
| 1955 | 5 | 5,828 | ▼ 75 |
| 1954 | 5 | 5,753 | back (not recorded in 1951–1953) |
| 1950 | 13 | 2,909 | ▲ 484 |
| 1949 | 10 | 3,393 | ▲ 1,258 |
| 1948 | 6 | 4,651 | ▼ 1,203 |
| 1947 | 10 | 3,448 | back (not recorded in 1945–1946) |
| 1944 | 5 | 4,574 | back (not recorded in 1934–1943) |
| 1933 | 8 | 3,109 | ▲ 459 |
| 1932 | 7 | 3,568 | back (not recorded in 1931) |
| 1930 | 5 | 4,550 | back (not recorded in 1927–1929) |
| 1926 | 9 | 3,269 | ▲ 759 |
| 1925 | 7 | 4,028 | ▼ 26 |
| 1924 | 7 | 4,002 | ▼ 652 |
| 1923 | 9 | 3,350 | ▲ 1,095 |
| 1922 | 6 | 4,445 | ▼ 1,045 |
| 1921 | 9 | 3,400 | ▲ 557 |
| 1920 | 7 | 3,957 | back (not recorded in 1919) |
| 1918 | 7 | 3,869 | ▼ 1,176 |
| 1917 | 11 | 2,693 | ▲ 1,724 |
| 1916 | 5 | 4,417 | ▼ 143 |
| 1915 | 5 | 4,274 | back (not recorded in 1914) |
| 1913 | 7 | 2,540 | ▲ 439 |
| 1912 | 5 | 2,979 | back (not recorded in 1911) |
| 1910 | 5 | 2,398 | back (not recorded in 1909) |
| 1908 | 7 | 1,676 | new |
Boys year by year, 1880–2025 145 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 230 | 991 | ▲ 85 |
| 2024 | 202 | 1,076 | ▼ 136 |
| 2023 | 240 | 940 | ▲ 150 |
| 2022 | 200 | 1,090 | ▼ 103 |
| 2021 | 222 | 987 | ▲ 190 |
| 2020 | 163 | 1,177 | ▼ 6 |
| 2019 | 165 | 1,171 | ▼ 49 |
| 2018 | 172 | 1,122 | ▼ 32 |
| 2017 | 179 | 1,090 | ▲ 249 |
| 2016 | 133 | 1,339 | ▼ 42 |
| 2015 | 137 | 1,297 | ▲ 159 |
| 2014 | 112 | 1,456 | ▼ 12 |
| 2013 | 114 | 1,444 | ▲ 4 |
| 2012 | 114 | 1,448 | ▲ 172 |
| 2011 | 94 | 1,620 | ▲ 158 |
| 2010 | 83 | 1,778 | ▼ 113 |
| 2009 | 94 | 1,665 | ▲ 110 |
| 2008 | 84 | 1,775 | ▼ 311 |
| 2007 | 109 | 1,464 | ▲ 62 |
| 2006 | 98 | 1,526 | ▲ 148 |
| 2005 | 80 | 1,674 | ▼ 132 |
| 2004 | 86 | 1,542 | ▲ 160 |
| 2003 | 72 | 1,702 | ▲ 317 |
| 2002 | 54 | 2,019 | ▼ 126 |
| 2001 | 58 | 1,893 | ▼ 168 |
| 2000 | 65 | 1,725 | ▼ 101 |
| 1999 | 66 | 1,624 | ▼ 226 |
| 1998 | 82 | 1,398 | ▲ 332 |
| 1997 | 56 | 1,730 | ▲ 256 |
| 1996 | 44 | 1,986 | ▲ 224 |
| 1995 | 36 | 2,210 | ▼ 476 |
| 1994 | 51 | 1,734 | ▲ 316 |
| 1993 | 39 | 2,050 | ▲ 312 |
| 1992 | 31 | 2,362 | ▼ 310 |
| 1991 | 36 | 2,052 | ▼ 367 |
| 1990 | 48 | 1,685 | ▲ 308 |
| 1989 | 36 | 1,993 | ▲ 262 |
| 1988 | 27 | 2,255 | ▲ 470 |
| 1987 | 19 | 2,725 | ▼ 1,000 |
| 1986 | 36 | 1,725 | ▲ 446 |
| 1985 | 25 | 2,171 | ▼ 12 |
| 1984 | 24 | 2,159 | ▲ 753 |
| 1983 | 15 | 2,912 | ▼ 486 |
| 1982 | 20 | 2,426 | ▼ 288 |
| 1981 | 24 | 2,138 | ▼ 135 |
| 1980 | 27 | 2,003 | ▲ 1,165 |
| 1979 | 13 | 3,168 | ▲ 232 |
| 1978 | 11 | 3,400 | ▼ 1,039 |
| 1977 | 19 | 2,361 | ▼ 32 |
| 1976 | 19 | 2,329 | ▲ 32 |
| 1975 | 18 | 2,361 | ▲ 313 |
| 1974 | 14 | 2,674 | ▼ 161 |
| 1973 | 15 | 2,513 | ▼ 642 |
| 1972 | 23 | 1,871 | ▼ 166 |
| 1971 | 27 | 1,705 | ▼ 159 |
| 1970 | 30 | 1,546 | ▲ 96 |
| 1969 | 25 | 1,642 | ▼ 28 |
| 1968 | 24 | 1,614 | ▼ 203 |
| 1967 | 29 | 1,411 | ▲ 39 |
| 1966 | 28 | 1,450 | ▲ 109 |
| 1965 | 25 | 1,559 | ▼ 296 |
| 1964 | 38 | 1,263 | ▲ 285 |
| 1963 | 26 | 1,548 | ▼ 333 |
| 1962 | 41 | 1,215 | ▼ 59 |
| 1961 | 46 | 1,156 | ▲ 226 |
| 1960 | 33 | 1,382 | ▼ 154 |
| 1959 | 40 | 1,228 | ▲ 25 |
| 1958 | 38 | 1,253 | ▼ 123 |
| 1957 | 46 | 1,130 | ▼ 47 |
| 1956 | 49 | 1,083 | ▼ 81 |
| 1955 | 56 | 1,002 | ▲ 309 |
| 1954 | 33 | 1,311 | ▼ 209 |
| 1953 | 44 | 1,102 | ▼ 58 |
| 1952 | 48 | 1,044 | ▲ 66 |
| 1951 | 42 | 1,110 | ▲ 29 |
| 1950 | 39 | 1,139 | ▼ 240 |
| 1949 | 59 | 899 | ▲ 46 |
| 1948 | 54 | 945 | ▼ 22 |
| 1947 | 57 | 923 | ▲ 21 |
| 1946 | 50 | 944 | ▼ 1 |
| 1945 | 47 | 943 | ▼ 174 |
| 1944 | 66 | 769 | ▼ 45 |
| 1943 | 79 | 724 | ▲ 21 |
| 1942 | 74 | 745 | ▼ 37 |
| 1941 | 76 | 708 | ▲ 33 |
| 1940 | 68 | 741 | ▲ 43 |
| 1939 | 60 | 784 | ▲ 24 |
| 1938 | 59 | 808 | ▼ 108 |
| 1937 | 73 | 700 | ▼ 67 |
| 1936 | 83 | 633 | ▼ 19 |
| 1935 | 91 | 614 | ▲ 119 |
| 1934 | 69 | 733 | ▼ 127 |
| 1933 | 92 | 606 | ▲ 26 |
| 1932 | 89 | 632 | ▼ 11 |
| 1931 | 92 | 621 | ▼ 11 |
| 1930 | 101 | 610 | ▼ 60 |
| 1929 | 115 | 550 | ▲ 52 |
| 1928 | 105 | 602 | ▲ 32 |
| 1927 | 99 | 634 | ▼ 71 |
| 1926 | 119 | 563 | ▼ 27 |
| 1925 | 131 | 536 | ▲ 27 |
| 1924 | 126 | 563 | ▼ 42 |
| 1923 | 136 | 521 | ▼ 32 |
| 1922 | 160 | 489 | – |
| 1921 | 160 | 489 | ▲ 13 |
| 1920 | 144 | 502 | – |
| 1919 | 140 | 502 | ▼ 51 |
| 1918 | 173 | 451 | ▲ 42 |
| 1917 | 135 | 493 | ▼ 8 |
| 1916 | 136 | 485 | ▼ 10 |
| 1915 | 135 | 475 | ▲ 71 |
| 1914 | 81 | 546 | ▼ 81 |
| 1913 | 85 | 465 | – |
| 1912 | 72 | 465 | ▼ 13 |
| 1911 | 42 | 452 | ▲ 117 |
| 1910 | 25 | 569 | ▼ 96 |
| 1909 | 29 | 473 | ▼ 90 |
| 1908 | 37 | 383 | ▲ 112 |
| 1907 | 22 | 495 | ▼ 71 |
| 1906 | 27 | 424 | ▲ 101 |
| 1905 | 19 | 525 | ▼ 33 |
| 1904 | 19 | 492 | ▼ 62 |
| 1903 | 22 | 430 | ▲ 257 |
| 1902 | 11 | 687 | ▼ 265 |
| 1901 | 20 | 422 | ▲ 96 |
| 1900 | 21 | 518 | ▲ 143 |
| 1899 | 10 | 661 | ▼ 138 |
| 1898 | 16 | 523 | ▼ 131 |
| 1897 | 23 | 392 | ▲ 249 |
| 1896 | 12 | 641 | ▼ 62 |
| 1895 | 13 | 579 | ▼ 115 |
| 1894 | 18 | 464 | ▲ 15 |
| 1893 | 15 | 479 | ▲ 209 |
| 1892 | 10 | 688 | ▼ 232 |
| 1891 | 15 | 456 | ▲ 173 |
| 1890 | 10 | 629 | ▲ 93 |
| 1889 | 8 | 722 | ▼ 238 |
| 1888 | 16 | 484 | ▲ 4 |
| 1887 | 13 | 488 | ▲ 52 |
| 1886 | 12 | 540 | ▲ 160 |
| 1885 | 8 | 700 | ▲ 148 |
| 1884 | 6 | 848 | back (not recorded in 1883) |
| 1882 | 15 | 469 | ▲ 184 |
| 1881 | 8 | 653 | ▼ 53 |
| 1880 | 10 | 600 | – |
Palmer by state
Palmer ranks #72 in North Dakota (2025).
Rank by state 41 states
| State | Rank | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 72 | 12 |
| Nebraska | 95 | 21 |
| Iowa | 96 | 31 |
| South Dakota | 97 | 10 |
| Mississippi | 99 | 22 |
| Oklahoma | 118 | 30 |
| Georgia | 123 | 78 |
| Tennessee | 125 | 59 |
| Arkansas | 125 | 23 |
| Kansas | 130 | 24 |
| Kentucky | 133 | 33 |
| Alabama | 139 | 32 |
| Ohio | 144 | 74 |
| South Carolina | 144 | 31 |
| North Carolina | 147 | 69 |
| Missouri | 160 | 38 |
| Louisiana | 162 | 25 |
| Delaware | 167 | 5 |
| Indiana | 168 | 41 |
| Michigan | 177 | 49 |
| Wisconsin | 201 | 27 |
| Montana | 208 | 5 |
| Minnesota | 212 | 26 |
| Florida | 223 | 83 |
| Arizona | 233 | 29 |
| Illinois | 240 | 43 |
| Oregon | 243 | 15 |
| Idaho | 244 | 9 |
| Texas | 247 | 140 |
| Virginia | 272 | 30 |
| West Virginia | 273 | 6 |
| Utah | 287 | 15 |
| Pennsylvania | 303 | 36 |
| Maryland | 304 | 17 |
| Colorado | 354 | 17 |
| Washington | 430 | 16 |
| Connecticut | 540 | 5 |
| Massachusetts | 564 | 9 |
| California | 675 | 46 |
| New York | 679 | 24 |
| New Jersey | 846 | 8 |
Notable people named Palmer
- Palmer Luckey is an American entrepreneur who created Oculus VR and the Oculus Rift, later founded defense tech firm Anduril, and appeared on Forbes 2016 list of richest entrepreneurs under 40.